FALL 2020 OPENINGS: College Announcements (continuously updated)

College Search & Selection
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A thread to aggregate solid, factual information-- based upon announcements from college presidents themselves-- as to which colleges will OPEN this Fall 2020 for on-campus, in-person instruction. Please update with FACTUAL ANNOUNCEMENTS by university presidents, or fact-based reporting of university press releases.

As of 2 May 21:43 ET, here’s who has announced their intention to be open for on-campus instruction in the fall if at all possible.

Purdue: Pres. Mitch Daniels, the ex-CEO of Eli Lilly and former US Budget Director, has announced that Purdue will be open this fall, and will use all its resources to test students, quarantine those who test positive, etc.

Texas A&M: Pres. Michael Young expects TAMU “to be fully open and operational, with dedicated faculty and staff leaning into preparing for all the requirements necessary to do so safely across academics, athletics and campus activities”

West Virginia U.: Pres. Gordon Gee announced in a letter to parents, “Today we feel confident there is enough information to announce our plans that we expect to be on campus for the fall. There are teams across the University developing the new measures, guidelines and precautions we will need to implement to inhibit the spread of COVID-19… We are considering processes for testing, tracing and isolating should another outbreak occur.”

Brown: Pres. Christina Paxson wrote a NY Times op-ed titled “College Campuses Must Re-Open in the Fall” and has created a task force that is now planning to open, with careful testing measures in place, in the fall

Boston University: Pres. Robert Brown has announced that BU intends to “resume its on-campus, residential program in the fall of 2020, following the recommended best health practices around the coronavirus pandemic.”

U. Arizona: Pres. Dr. Robert Robbins announced Apr 30 that the university will resume in-person classes this Fall 2020.

Other universities have yet to make an announcement and are studying the issue now.

These have announced the following timetable for notifying students of their decision - by end of:
…May: Stanford
…June: Cornell, Ohio State, UT-Austin
…July: Yale

Harvard: has announced that they will likely only offer online classes this Fall.

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This is really helpful. Thank you very much. My son has attended Berklee for the past two years and, although we are hoping that they will be able to safely open the campus for fall, we’re not counting on it. The music classes that he still needs/wants to take are just likely to lose a lot in the translation to online (although the school and professors have done their best under the circumstances and with such short notice for spring), so he will probably sit the semester out if in-person classes are not an option. The fact that Harvard is “likely” to be online-only in the fall doesn’t make me terribly optimistic. although BU hopes to get back down to business!
I will watch for updates here.

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Glad to help. What are the Berklee people telling you regarding how and when they will decide?

It appears to be the case that each school is taking its own approach – not really much consistency across schools.

Please feel free to update this thread as you get new information, thanks.

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I think 99% of schools are saying the intend to open or hope to be open to get freshmen to commit , the real decisions are still 6 weeks away IMO.

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Until schools solve the messing Dorm dilemma , I do not see how it can work to be open and back on campus, I think the class dilemma is easier to solve.

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They’ll have to change their policies for freshman housing and require many of the freshmen to live off-campus.

I’d guess that the big midwestern/southern/western land-grant campuses like Texas A&M, Michigan, Illinois, etc will be able to handle this shift. The U. of California (except Merced) and the urban universities will not.

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Chapman University and the Claremont Colleges reportedly will be open in Fall 2020 (report from CBS News-LA, 13 May 2020).

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Cal State U. campuses and the University of California campuses will not be open this Fall.

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U. Virginia plans to announce in June whether it will be open this fall.

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Hillsdale College’s president scorned the notion of closing in the fall… evidently Hillsdale plans to be open this fall.

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@thibault - Where did you read the UC’s made a final decision?

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From Inside HigherEd, a report of a call on April 13 with Vice President Pence, Education Secretary DeVos and Dr. Birx concerning “data-driven strategies for re-opening.”

From Inside HigherEd, here’s the list of those who participated – presumably these colleges wish to be open this fall:

[CONFIRMED plans to re-open] Pres. of Purdue University and the 49th governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels Jr.
[CONFIRMED plans to re-open] Pres. of Hillsdale College Larry Arnn

Pres. of University of Texas-El Paso and the 24th secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson
Pres. of Marquette University Michael Lovell
Pres. of the University of Virginia James E. Ryan
Chancellor of the University of Alabama system Fess St. John IV
Pres. of the University of Florida W. Kent Fuchs
Pres. of the University of Notre Dame Reverend John Jenkins
Pres. of Carnegie Mellon University Farnam Jahanian
Pres. of the Ohio State University Dr. Michael V. Drake
Pres. of Stanford University Marc Tessier-Lavigne
Pres. of Wake Forest University Nathan Hatch
Pres. of Arizona State University Michael Crow
Pres. of Hampton University William R. Harvey

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As of May 1, Pres. Tessier-Lavigne confirmed Stanford is considering re-opening but with classes being held outdoors, in tents.

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The University of California (UCs) have not made an official decision as far as I am aware. Although, I won’t be surprised if they decide to go online,

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So here’s the updated list - please feel free to add - as of 13 May 12 midnight ET:

WILL DEFINITELY NOT RE-OPEN (online only)
Cal State University system (Chancellor Timothy White)

WILL PROBABLY NOT RE-OPEN (online only)
Harvard
U. of California system (Pres. Janet Napolitano)

DEFINITELY WILL RE-OPEN - have announced plans to re-open:
Purdue (Pres. Mitch Daniels)
Texas A&M (Pres. Michael Young)
West Virginia U. (Pres. Gordon Gee)
Brown (Pres. Christina Paxson)
Boston University (Pres. Robert Brown)
U. Arizona (Pres. Dr. Robert Robbins)
Hillsdale Collge (Pres. Larry Arnn)
Chapman University
Claremont Colleges

LIKELY TO RE-OPEN - have announced possible approach to re-opening:
Stanford (Pres. Marc Tessier-Lavigne)

STILL CONSIDERING RE-OPENING / NOW WORKING WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON PLANS TO RE-OPEN:
U. Texas-El Paso (Pres. and former Sec’y of the Air Force, Heather Wilson)
Marquette (Pres. Michael Lovell)
U. Virginia (Pres. James E. Ryan)
U. Alabama system (Chancellor Fess St. John IV)
U. Florida (Pres. W. Kent Fuchs)
Notre Dame (Reverend John Jenkins)
Carnegie Mellon (Pres. Farnam Jahanian)
Ohio State (Pres. Dr. Michael V. Drake)
Wake Forest (Pres. Nathan Hatch)
Arizona State (Pres. Michael Crow_
Hampton U. (Pres. William R. Harvey)

WILL ANNOUNCE DECISION BY END OF JUNE:
Cornell
Ohio State
UT-Austin

WILL ANNOUNCE DECISION BY END OF JULY:
Yale

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The updated list as of 14 May 0:44 am ET:

WILL DEFINITELY NOT RE-OPEN (online only)
Cal State University system (Chancellor Timothy White)

WILL PROBABLY NOT RE-OPEN (primarily or entirely online)
Harvard
U. of California system (Pres. Janet Napolitano)

DEFINITELY WILL RE-OPEN - have announced plans to re-open:
U. Tennessee (per Senator Alexander of TN)
Middle Tennessee State (per Senator Alexander of TN)
Purdue (Pres. Mitch Daniels)
Texas A&M (Pres. Michael Young)
West Virginia U. (Pres. Gordon Gee)
Brown (Pres. Christina Paxson)
Boston University (Pres. Robert Brown)
U. Arizona (Pres. Dr. Robert Robbins)
Hillsdale College (Pres. Larry Arnn)
Chapman University
Claremont Colleges

LIKELY TO RE-OPEN - have announced possible approach to re-opening:
Stanford (Pres. Marc Tessier-Lavigne)

STILL CONSIDERING RE-OPENING / NOW WORKING WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON PLANS TO RE-OPEN:
U. Texas-El Paso (Pres. and former Sec’y of the Air Force, Heather Wilson)
Marquette (Pres. Michael Lovell)
U. Virginia (Pres. James E. Ryan)
U. Alabama system (Chancellor Fess St. John IV)
U. Florida (Pres. W. Kent Fuchs)
Notre Dame (Reverend John Jenkins)
Carnegie Mellon (Pres. Farnam Jahanian)
Ohio State (Pres. Dr. Michael V. Drake)
Wake Forest (Pres. Nathan Hatch)
Arizona State (Pres. Michael Crow)
Hampton U. (Pres. William R. Harvey)

WILL ANNOUNCE DECISION BY END OF JUNE:
Cornell
Ohio State
UT-Austin

WILL ANNOUNCE DECISION BY END OF JULY:
Yale

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gratefulmama,

Per KCRA News, Tuesday 12 May:

The University of California said it is “likely none of our campuses will fully reopen in fall” due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

UC spokesperson Claire Doan explained in a statement Tuesday that the system is exploring a mixed approach of in-person and online classes.

“The health, well-being and safety of our community is of utmost importance,” Doan said in the statement. “We will continue to carefully monitor the rapidly evolving situation and plan ahead. Our campuses will reopen for on-site instruction when it is safe to do so – in alignment and coordination with federal, state and local health departments and authorities.”

The UC system is planning for a wide range of possibilities, Doan said.

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OPEN:
University of Oklahoma
William Jewell College

The new president of the University of Oklahoma released the following statement (not quoted in full):

“After careful deliberation, our intention is to return to in-person educational operations on all three campuses by this fall, offering traditional instruction and residential life. We are doing everything we can to make that realistic and safe. We are acutely aware of the certain challenges COVID-19 will present as we pursue this goal and are planning to address the issues proactively and creatively,” Harroz said in the letter. “We are prepared to adapt instructional and housing models as appropriate to protect our community and still offer the life-changing in-person OU experience. Flexibility will be a guiding principle as we navigate the coming months, and we will ensure that our students, faculty, and staff are presented with appropriate options to return to our campuses, keeping their safety top of mind.”

Harroz said although campus officials cannot eliminate all risk of COVID-19, they will take every reasonable measure to mitigate it.

“We are fortunate to benefit from the expertise of our own public health and infectious diseases experts, and we are consulting daily with our subject-matter scientists and physicians. Safety precautions will be at the forefront of all campus operations, from the classrooms to the residence halls,” Harroz said.

The following safety precautions will be taken:

Adapting class schedules
Utilizing larger classrooms for greater social distancing
Enabling the widespread use of masks and other PPE
Increasing on-campus testing
Providing enhanced cleaning throughout all campuses

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And William Jewell College intends to open. Their statement:

“We are committed to our plan to provide students a safe living and learning experience on campus for the fall semester,” said Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, president. “With support from the Board of Trustees, City of Liberty and Clay County Public Health Center, we intend for William Jewell College to be open for in-person classes and co-curricular activities in August.”

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The updated list as of 14 May 1:07 am ET:

WILL DEFINITELY NOT RE-OPEN (online only)
Cal State University system (Chancellor Timothy White)

WILL PROBABLY NOT RE-OPEN (primarily or entirely online)
Harvard
U. of California system (Pres. Janet Napolitano)

DEFINITELY WILL RE-OPEN - have announced plans to re-open:
U. Alabama system (Kellee Reinhart, spokesperson; Chancellor Fess St. John IV)
U. No. Carolina system (Interim Pres. Bill Roper)
U. North Dakota system (per unanimous vote Apr 30 of ND St. Board of Higher Ed.)
Texas Tech (Pres. Lawrence Scovanech)
Morgan State U. in Maryland
U. Tennessee (per Senator Alexander of TN)
Middle Tennessee State (per Senator Alexander of TN)
Purdue (Pres. Mitch Daniels)
Texas A&M (Pres. Michael Young)
West Virginia U. (Pres. Gordon Gee)
Brown (Pres. Christina Paxson)
Boston University (Pres. Robert Brown)
U. Arizona (Pres. Dr. Robert Robbins)
Hillsdale College (Pres. Larry Arnn)
Chapman University
Claremont Colleges

LIKELY TO RE-OPEN - have announced possible approach to re-opening:
Stanford (Pres. Marc Tessier-Lavigne)

STILL CONSIDERING RE-OPENING / NOW WORKING WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON PLANS TO RE-OPEN:
U. Texas-El Paso (Pres. and former Sec’y of the Air Force, Heather Wilson)
Marquette (Pres. Michael Lovell)
U. Virginia (Pres. James E. Ryan)
U. Florida (Pres. W. Kent Fuchs)
Notre Dame (Reverend John Jenkins)
Carnegie Mellon (Pres. Farnam Jahanian)
Ohio State (Pres. Dr. Michael V. Drake)
Wake Forest (Pres. Nathan Hatch)
Arizona State (Pres. Michael Crow)
Hampton U. (Pres. William R. Harvey)

WILL ANNOUNCE DECISION BY END OF JUNE:
Cornell
Ohio State
UT-Austin

WILL ANNOUNCE DECISION BY END OF JULY:
Yale

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The Chronicle of a Higher Education has an extensive list of the colleges’ approaches. The President of Northeastern U was on CNN last night. They intend to open the campus in the fall, although of course this is an evolving situation.